Tabloid 'hacked other journalists' phones over John Prescott affair story'

News of the World hacked phones of rival journalists in attempt to discover
what they knew about John Prescott’s affair, trial hears

Andy Coulson, left, and Ian Edmondson arriving at London's Old Bailey on ThursdayPhoto: EDDIE MULHOLLAND FOR THE TELEGRAPH

By Sam Marsden

5:19PM GMT 31 Oct 2013

The News of the World hacked the phones of rival journalists in an attempt to discover what they knew about John Prescott’s affair in a “dog-eat-dog” fight to get stories, the court heard.

Glenn Mulcaire, a private investigator employed by the Sunday tabloid, accessed the voicemails of two Mail on Sunday reporters investigating the then-deputy prime minister’s extramarital relationship with his diary secretary, Tracey Temple, in 2006, the jury was told.

A number likely to be linked to Ian Edmondson, The News of the World’s head of news, was also used to hack the phones of the competitor title’s staff, it was alleged.

Andy Coulson, The News of the World's editor at the time, authorised a starting offer of £100,000 for a possible exclusive interview with Miss Temple.

However, at the same time Mr Mulcaire was busy hacking the phones of both Miss Temple and Joan Hammell, Lord Prescott’s special adviser, the trial heard.

The jury heard that on April 26, 2006, Mr Edmondson emailed Mr Coulson saying: “I’ve got Tracey Temple’s mobile number. I want to shock her with a figure. How deep are your pockets?”

Within a minute the editor replied: “Start at £100,000.” The message was forwarded to James Weatherup, a senior reporter on the paper, who moments later replied that Miss Temple appeared to have a foreign ring tone on her phone so must be abroad.

When Mr Edmondson asked whether he had text messaged her, Mr Weatherup responded: “Yup… have said we will beat any other offer, she’s abroad.” He added a reference to “Glenn” being able to “assist”.

Andrew Edis QC, prosecuting, talked the jury through an extensive timeline of calls showing how the phones of Dennis Rice and Sebastian Hamilton, two Mail on Sunday journalists who were working on the story of Lord Prescott's affair, were also hacked. He said that the calls came both from Mr Mulcaire and a News International number, which he said was likely to be Mr Edmondson.

The prosecutor said: “This is about finding out how the competition are getting on with the story because you don’t want to get scooped.

“An easy way to find that out is to hack their phones so the opposition don’t steal a march on you.

“In the dog-eat-dog world of journalism, in this frenzy to get the huge story and to try to get something other than everybody else, that is what you do, we suggest, if you are Ian Edmondson - you hack the competition.”